Does your cat thyroid gland function poorly? Does she have allergies or skin infection? If so, then your pet may have seborrhea.
Signs of Seborrhea: Your cat has an extremely dry, crusty skin with grayish-white flakes and dry, dull coat or waxy, oily, crusty skin with yellowish flakes and rancid odor. Your cat may exhibit mild to moderate itching. Broken skin and varying degrees of hair loss due to scratching may be also present.
This condition is fairly uncommon in cats (it is probably more common in dogs and humans). Marked by an abnormal skin cell turnover rate, this abnormal skin cell production can manifest itself in either of two ways, leading to either excessive dryness or excessive skin oil production. Seborrhea can show up on its own be caused by anumber od diseases.
Seborrhea Treatment: Take your cat to the vet. Diagnosing seborrhea isn't especially difficult, but determining why the cat has the condition can be. Your vet will run a series of tests (e.g., a thyroid function, bacterial culture, or a skin biopsy) to determine whether seborrhea is your pet's only condition or whether it is a result of another primary illness. If it is caused by another underlying disease, that condition will be addressed first, then your vet will treat the seborrhea.
Treatment of seborrhea usually entails bathing your cat 1 to 2 times a week with medicated shampoos containing sulfur and/or selenium disulfide. If the kitty's seborrhea is of the dry variety, your vet may recommend following the bath with a moisturizing skin rinse. He may also prescribe fatty acid supplements. You may want to add vitamins C and E, zinc, and sulfur to your cat's diet, as well as a plant-enzyme dietary supplement containing high levels of lipase.
Prevention of Seborrhea: When seborrhea is caused by another illness, prompt attention to that condition can prevent seborrhea from becoming more entrenched.